Lakers' Scott defends letting Kobe do his thing: 'He has that privilege'

In one way, the fact that the Los Angeles Lakers are headed nowhere except for the lottery this season can at least excuse coach Byron Scott's approach in terms of Kobe Bryant.

In the wake of Sunday's 14-point loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, Scott was asked what the logic was to the continuous Bryant isolations that led to a typically inefficient 6-of-22 shooting and 18 points. His answer spoke volumes about where the Lakers are this season.

"He's had 20 years of experience in this league," Scott said. "We might not have six players who might not have 20 years combined. He has that privilege basically. From a coaching standpoint, I want Kobe to be Kobe, other guys haven't earned that right yet."

Bryant, to be clear, is shooting a career-low 33.1 percent from the floor and 20 percent from deep. He went 0-for-5 from beyond the arc Sunday. As a result, Scott was promptly eviscerated by logic.

What is likely Bryant's final season in the NBA is hardly a storybook finish. The Lakers' last remote chance to contend for a title went out the window when Steve Nash got hurt and Dwight Howard bolted for Houston. It's left Bryant to limp through his last few injury-plagued seasons on something the Lakers franchise is just not used to: a young, rebuilding squad.

From a coaching standpoint, Scott has never been confused with Red Auerbach, but was a legendary player in his own right with the Lakers. While Bryant's playing style can be debated as the product of a bygone era, there is no doubting his place as one of the greats in NBA history.

Scott and the Lakers appear perfectly happy to let him go out doing whatever he wants, regardless of its effects on the development of its young blue-chip talent.